Meghan Markle was one of the most searched actresses before she changed her last name. Actually, fun fact: the Royals don't take the last name. Harry and Meghan will take the titles Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Harry is charming, but he doesn't exactly create the same press frenzy as Meghan does. Since 11-years-old, she's inspired the coldest of hearts in our country, and now, she's taking on others.
Before Meghan become royalty when she was living it up as an actress, the press left her mother, father and siblings alone, but as soon as word spread of her partnership with Harry, the sharks went after her bloodline.
Every failure and flaw in her family was put on display for the world to see. From her father's alcoholism, money problems and a plethora of deceit, to her mother's rejection of everything elitist, it has all been put out there for the public to eat up.
Let's not forget about Meghan's crazy half-sister and her brother who sent a letter to Prince Harry reminding him of all the reasons he should do away with Meg. (What a charmer.)
She certainly hasn't had it easy, but Meghan's handled it all with class, as the true princess she is.
Here are the 15 most talked about photos of the Markles (and ex-Markles).
15 Her Brother's Behavior Right Before The Wedding
A few weeks before the royal wedding, photos of Meghan and her half-brother Thomas Markle Jr. started to circulate along with a letter that In Touch Weekly published in which Thomas Markle urged Prince Harry to dump his sister.
The letter, written on April 26th, writes, "...This is the biggest mistake in royal wedding history. Meghan Markle is obviously not the right woman for you. She is a jaded, shallow, conceited woman that will make a joke of you and the royal family heritage."
Ouch. What did Prince Harry and Meghan have to say about this letter? Well, nothing. But Meghan's half-sister Samantha had something to say. "My brother needs to stop the alcoholism and the lies.” Which is interesting because she had some not-so-kind things to say herself concerning her half-sister.
Allegedly, Meghan's father filed bankruptcy after burying himself in debt to help her break into Hollywood, so Meghan's sister told an Austrailian TV show, A Current Affair, that "If she can afford $75,000 for a dress, then she can afford $75,000 to help her own dad.”
Meghan's family had so much to pipe in about during the weeks leading up to her big day, but it gets even worse. (Keep reading.)
14 Meghan's Dad Staging His Own Paparazzi Photos
Just a handful of days before Meghan and Harry where due to tie the knot, her father, Thomas Markle Sr., was accused of staging paparazzi photos of himself. In these photos he was doing things like reading articles about his daughter and Harry, working on his fitness and glancing through books with titles like, “Images of Britain.”
In one photo, Markle Sr. was seen in a suit shop, which everyone assumed was the place he was being fitted for the royal wedding, but there was just one problem, the photos looked staged. When the sales clerk in the photo was contacted, he claimed to have been tipped $15 by Markle Sr. to stage the photo.
The press caught on and looked into all of the photos that were released around the same time and discovered they had all been staged. The worst part, they were sold for $140,000, all of which Mr. Markle pocketed.
Again, Meghan and Harry removed themselves from the drama, but Samantha (Meghan's sisters) had something to add once again. "The bad press over my father doing staged photos is my fault,” Samantha tweeted. “The media was unfairly making him look bad so I suggested he do positive photos for his benefit and the benefit of the royal family. We had no idea he would be taken advantage of. It was not for money.”
13 Meghan's Sister Leaks Photos And Says She Wasn't Invited To The Wedding
Samantha Markle is truly a piece of work.
She might have been sympathetic and supportive of Meghan before, but once she realized she wasn't invited to the wedding, it all went south.
"Out of respect and humanitarianism, the Markles should be invited if 2,000 complete strangers are," Samantha tweeted. "Our uncle, brother, me, best friend of 30 years, nephews. Our issue is not a matter of closeness. Family is family."
Maybe so, but did it really call for a public address? Meghan had nothing to say regarding her sister's remarks but an individual representing her told People that "Meghan has no relationship with her half-siblings, nor has she ever had one.” As much as we want to give Meghan the benefit of the doubt concerning his, there are dozens of photos of her and her sister from her childhood through her teen years in pivotal moments like graduations and holidays.
So what is the truth behind Meghan's created distance? We might not ever know. But Harry seems to have treated her as an orphan. Last December, Harry said in an interview that his family is the "family Meghan's never had." This infuriated her sister Samantha, who took to her platform of choice (Twitter) to vent about it.
"Actually, [Meghan] has a large family who was always there with her and for her. No one was estranged, she was just too busy. Meg's family is complete with [a] sister, brother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and the glue of our family, our amazing father. She always had this family... Marrying merely extends it."
It was all crickets after that.
12 Meghan's Mother Has Been Assigned A Bodyguard. Here's Why.
Soon after Meghan and Harry got engaged back on November 27th, the paparazzi and press started harassing and hounding Meghan and her family members. Harry hired a bodyguard for Meghan right away and his people issued this statement: "The past week has seen a line crossed. [Harry's] girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment," the family source said. "Some of this has been very public — the smear on the front page of a national newspaper; the racial undertones of comment pieces; and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and web article comments."
But Meghan wasn't the only one to endure such awful scrutiny. The day the couples' engagement was announced, Doria Ragland (Meghan's mother) had paparazzi and press swarming her humble home in Los Angeles, fighting for the first comment after the big announcement.
To their surprise, they were met by security guards that had been hired by Kensington Palace to provide protection for Meghan's mother and to help keep her away from media frenzy. That protection still stands. When news of the engagement broke, a letter issued by Kensington Palace was placed on the front porch of Ms. Ragland's home. The beginning reads, "Dear madam/sir, This is a private house and you are asked to respect the privacy and safety of Doria Ragland. The privacy and safety of her neighbors should also be respected. She will not be giving interviews or making statements and as a consequence requests that you do not ask that she does so."
Since then, the harassment has died down.
11 How It All Began
Meghan's parents, Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland, met in the late 70s. It was love at first sight for these two, but there was a powerful resistance at play.
In an essay Meghan wrote for Elle, she lets us in on how it all began. "It was the late Seventies when my parents met, my dad was a lighting director for a soap opera and my mom was a temp at the studio. I like to think he was drawn to her sweet eyes and her Afro, plus their shared love of antiques."
The two married rather quickly and had Meghan on August 4, 1981, right after moving into The Valley in L.A, which was at the time, mostly white. Her mother was subjected to heavy discrimination, such as being viewed as the "nanny" or "maid" of the home, and became very sad at the inability to connect to her husband and his world.
The details of those first years of her parents' marriage have not been published, and rightfully so, as those things should remain private, but we do know how it all ended. It turns out that love was not enough for these two, but they managed to raise up a daughter who didn't lose her faith in it.
10 Sometimes Things Have To Fall Apart To Come Together
As previously stated, the marriage of Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland ended in divorce when Meghan was just 6-years-old. After the split, Meghan went to live with her mother who was a yoga instructor and social worker at the time.
Naturally, Meghan and her mother became very close. There is no one closer to Meghan than her mother. Before Harry proposed, he asked Ms. Ragland for permission instead of Meghan's father. It was rumored that Doria would walk Meghan down the aisle, but in the end, they thought it best to stick with tradition. So when the news came that Mr. Markle wasn't going to make it to the wedding, Meghan had to deal with going at it alone. The support of her mother on her big day got her through the scandal that her dad was involved in leading up to her most important moment. His sincere apologies and Meghan's extended grace, mended the relationship right away.
After her parents split, Meghan's relationship with her father wasn't as consistent as it was with her mother. “Meghan loves her dad,” one of Meghan's co-star friends told People. "Like any father-daughter relationship, there have been ups and downs over the years. But they are in a good place now.”
9 How Meghan's Ex-Husband Seeks To Sabotage Her New Family
If you don't already know, Meghan was married once before, to a producer and talent agent named Trevor Engelson. The two met in 2004 and dated for seven years before tying the knot.
They married in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, on September 10, 2011 and but two years later filed for divorce. After Meghan sent him back her rings via mail, Trevor's close friend issued this statement, "Trevor has gone from cherishing Meghan to feeling like he was a piece of something stuck to the bottom of her shoe." Friends of Meghan and Trevor claimed the couple had "irreconcilable differences."
Meghan has lost some close friends over her and Trevor's split. "All I can say now is that I think Meghan was calculated, very calculated, in the way she handled people and relationships. She is very strategic in the way she cultivates circles of friends. Once she decides you’re not part of her life, she can be very cold … The way she handled it, Trevor definitely had the rug pulled out from under him," wrote one of their mutual friends, who after hearing Trevor's side of the story, sided with him.
Anyways, flash forward to now and Trevor is seeking revenge. How is he doing this? Well, only in the coldest way possible, by producing a TV show "about a woman who divorces her husband and marries a British prince." No freaking way!
Fox has given the show a green light. Let's get our popcorn ready. This'll be good!
8 The Family Secret Behind This Photo
Meghan hopes to turn the tables in her marriage with Harry. Even though her first marriage ended, she dreams that her children and children's children will never have to feel the sting of divorce as she has had to so many times.
This photo is quite ironic. In it, her father Thomas seems to be making fun of the fact that he's married, except he wasn't when this photo was taken. Before he met Meghan's mom, he was married to a woman named Roslyn Loveless (you read that right) whom he had Thomas Jr. and Samantha with, Meghan's only siblings.
Thomas Jr. has been divorced twice just like dad, with two children to show for it, and Samantha has had two failed marriages as well that produced three children. There was some chatter surrounding the royal wedding that people running in Harry's circle believed Meghan's family to be too messy to invite. I'm not sure what kind of "mess" they would've left behind in those chairs, but I'm assuming nothing more than maybe a few fallen tears.
Meghan might be embarrassed by her family, but ignoring what kind of background you came from won't help in writing a better story for your own children.
7 Then There Was This Photo, Leaked By Her Family
Before Meghan hit high school, she rocked her natural, curly hair. She didn't care for makeup and she was covered in the most adorable freckles. Without the headsup, I don't think many of us would even piece together that this was the young Meghan Markle. Her style is quite different now.
She was 13-years-old when this photo was taken of her in front of a family member's tree. It was one of the few published by her family years back to let the public catch a glimpse of how life was growing up as Meghan.
This photo was taken soon after the story of how she fought a sexist Proctor & Gamble ad, went viral. "Women are fighting greasy pots and pans," the ad said. The young Meghan wasn't okay with the world viewing woman as assigned to the kitchen, so her dad encouraged her to write letters to challenge it. Once of the letters Meghan wrote was to Hillary Clinton, and she actually received a response. Eventually, Proctor & Gamble changed the ad to say "people" instead of "women," a huge win for us all.
Back to Christmas. Meghan does have her traditions. She leaves a glass of red wine, a note and homemade blueberry cornmeal pancakes out for Santa every year. I wonder how well she'll be able to keep those traditions now that she's royalty.
6 Meghan's Dad Is Seen Living On A Secluded Beach In Mexico
For a man who hired a photographer to take fake paparazzi photos of himself, Thomas Markle sure seems to want to be as far away from Hollywood as possible.
Meghan's dad lives on a cliff in Rosario Beach in Mexico, 15 minutes from the border. Thomas Jr. (Meghan's half brother) told Business Insider that his dad "never liked the limelight, and since the news came out about Meghan and Harry, he has become a total recluse."
That might be true, but then why pump positive images of yourself out to the press, if you don't care about being seen by them? Thomas Jr. went on to say that Mr. Markle "hates the attention Meghan's romance has brought on to him. He loves her but hates the idea of being in the spotlight." If that is a fact, then Mr. Markle would've been okay with being forgotten and wouldn't have had to hire a photographer to keep himself in the news.
Two years ago, Mr. Markle injured his leg, which his family says made him much more introverted. Whatever the reason behind his seclusion, he seemed to have siked himself out over his daughter's wedding. Can't you just picture Mr. Markle plucking a flower? "I'll go to the royal wedding." "I won't got to the royal wedding." We know which one won.
5 Meghan Criticized After Photos Of Her Mom At A Laundromat Hit The Press
Meghan gathered a bunch of criticism after photos of her mother leaving a laundromat in Los Angeles hit the press. Ms. Ragland's stern expression seems to be out of character, as if to suggest she's bothered by the fact she has to do laundry at such a place, but that wasn't the truth behind the photo. Meghan has already been judged for not bailing her father out of his financial crisis, so when this photo was published, people wondered once again if she'd forgotten her own.
The truth is, Meghan's mother prefers to live simply. She'd rather live in a small home without all the amenities and be forced to experience the world around her when she has to do something like laundry.
Meghan told DailyMail that her "mom has always been a free spirit. She has dread locks and a nose ring. She just ran the LA Marathon." So basically, she isn't interested in the same life her daughter is pursuing, yet the two remain close and highly respect and support each other.
Meghan happened to be on a trip to Botswana when these photos hit the press, so the public's criticism of her was a bit harsher than it should've been. What for? Well, over the crazy assumption that Meghan's living her best life while watching those closest to her suffer.
4 Meghan's Dad Ashamed Enough To Not Show Up At His Daughter's Wedding
Soon after the engagement, it was announced that Mr. Markle would walk his daughter down the aisle on her big day, but then Thomas Markle Jr. wrote a letter to Prince Harry, embarrassing the entire family, and his sister Samantha publicly humiliated Meghan after finding out her family hadn't been invited to the wedding. Feeling completely betrayed by his own children, Mr. Markle found a way to conveniently "miss" Meghan's big day. He also seemed to be hiding in shame after it was discovered he'd paid a photographer to fake some paparazzi pics of him.
Meghan's family has been labeled hungry for fame and prone to drama, so Mr. Markle found it best to opt out. He came up with an excuse that would keep the press off his back. It was quite genius actually. On May 14th, Mr. Markle announced that he'd become "too ill" to make the trip.
He elaborated that his doctors thought it best he not travel due to poor health and heart issues. A surgery was scheduled around the time of the wedding for Mr. Markle to have [a blockage cleared, damage repaired and a stent placed where needed,] TMZ reported. "I hate the idea of missing one of the greatest moments in history and walking my daughter down the aisle," Mr. Markle commented.
As for Meghan, she had this to say, "“I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health." She then thanked the public for supporting her and Harry.
3 The "Less Publicized" Side Of Meghan's Family
When researching for this article, It felt as if Meghan's "black side" of her family had been erased. I started to read what others were saying and the same was being said. It's as if the media has completely done away with the "black side" of Meghan's family.
"They would have us all believe that she doesn’t have any Black family beyond her mother, that her mother was somehow born by osmosis, then met and married her white father while working as a temp on a TV set in Hollywood. Who were her Black grandparents, her Black Aunts and Uncles if any?" wrote one blogger.
Meghan's great-great-great grandfather was born into slavery, but then freed at the end of the Civil War. Her grandfather Alvin (pictured above) passed away when she was young. After his death, Meghan's mother stopped caring to keep in touch with her other family members (minus her sisters, who she moved to be next to).
The area of Crenshaw, CA, where Meghan's mother and aunt, Ava Burrow, live is gang ridden and one of the toughest areas of L.A. When the DailyMail interviewed the neighbors of Meghan's mother and aunt, no one claimed to have ever seen Meghan around. "I’ve never seen the little girl [Meghan] though,’ said Michael McWilliams, age 49. "She [Doria] has been living here since her daddy [Alvin] died."
Meghan has other aunts and uncles and plenty of cousins that we just never read/hear about. Why? Well, no one really knows, but we do have this photo.
2 Meghan's Uninvited Family Was Spotted Landing In London For Her Big Day
Some of Meghan's family members who did not get an invite to her wedding, showed up in London anyways. Reporters with knowledge of Meghan's family history, recognized them when they came marching through London's Heathrow airport the Monday before the wedding. "Meghan's nephew, Tyler Dooley, his brother, Thomas, and their mother Tracy, who was married to Markle's half-brother Thomas Markle Jr., were spotted," reported TMZ.
After some digging, it was discovered that Meghan's family didn't have plans to crash her big day, but that they had accepted invites to work as correspondents for "Good Morning Britain" during the May 19 ceremony.
Us Weekly reported that some of Meghan's former "Suits" cast members had arrived as well, excited to watch her walk down the aisle. Among those attending was the wife and son of Suits leading man, Gabriel Macht, and Meghan's co-star, Sarah Rafferty.
Meghan was criticized by her family and some of her fans for inviting strangers and co-workers to her wedding and leaving out blood. But if there hasn't ever been relationship between her and those family members, what should really be expected? A woman's wedding day is the most intimate moment of her life. You only want to share it with those you're in true relationship with. Right?
1 Meghan's Half-Sister Goes To Extreme Measures To Keep Her Face In The Lime Light
We've already covered some of the off-handed, misguided things Meghan's half-sister Samantha Grant said after finding out she wasn't going to be allowed to attend the royal wedding, but things have gotten out of hand since then.
It's starting to become obvious that Grant will do whatever it takes to keep the cameras on herself, including releasing a "tell all" book in 2019, titled: The Diary of Princess Pushy's Sister. Seriously? Meghan hasn't spoken to her sister Samantha in over a decade, yet she feels the need to pipe in on nearly everything having to do with Meghan's "new life." That's bold.
Samantha claims her sister's "new life" isn't superior to her old one in any way. “You’ve got inbreeding, you’ve got substance abuse, you’ve got alcohol abuse, you’ve got infidelity,” Samantha wrote. “On what grounds could the royals feel that the Markle’s are somehow not worthy?”
Grant has also called Meghan a "shallow social climber" and suggested that her sister won't like what she has to say about her in the book. "Maybe when Meghan is more mature she’ll understand," wrote Grant.
Grant claims she's not out to tell her story for the sole purpose of money and fame, but the fact that she'll soon be starting a reality show, suggests otherwise.
Some of it she won’t like, some of it she might.
References: harpersbazaar.com, intouchweekly.com, hollywoodlife.com, thenewdaily.com.au, marieclaire.com, thesun.co.uk, people.com, closerweekly.com, nydailynews.com, wonder wall.com, washingtonpost.com, goodhousekeeping.com, foxnews.com, cosmopolitan.com, cheatsheet.com, townandcountrymag.com, radaronline.com, today.com, expressdigest.com, tmz.com, cnn.com, irishtimes.com, news.com.au, medium.com, usweekly.com, usmagazine.com, pagesix.com, newsweek.com, jezebel.com, bustle.com